Energy Citations Database (ECD) - - Document #923498
We have several times documented the "Syntrolysis" concept, under development by our USDOE, and others; wherein Water solutions of Carbon Dioxide, as might be obtained from a Coal-fired power plant smoke stack scrubber, can be electrolyzed and made thereby to generate mixtures of Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide, i.e., a synthesis gas suitable in composition for catalytic condensation into liquid hydrocarbons.
An example would include our report of:
USDOE Converts CO2 to Gasoline | Research & Development | News; wherein is detailed:
"United States Patent 4,197,421 - Synthetic Carbonaceous Fuels and Feedstocks; 1980; Assignee: The United States of America; Abstract: This invention relates to the use of a three compartment electrolytic cell in the production of synthetic carbonaceous fuels and chemical feedstocks such as gasoline, methane and methanol by electrolyzing an aqueous sodium carbonate/bicarbonate solution, obtained from scrubbing atmospheric carbon dioxide."
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Note, above, that the USDOE Brookhaven, NY, lab's process is so efficient, that it can utilize CO2 scrubbed from the atmosphere itself, at any convenient location, to manufacture "gasoline ... and methanol".
Other USDOE scientists in New Mexico have similar developments in hand, as seen in our report of:
USDOE Synthetic Fuels from Atmospheric CO2 | Research & Development | News; wherein we're told of:
United States Patent Application: 0100205856 -- "Synthetic Fuels from Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide; 2010; William Kubic and Jeffrey Martin, Los Alamos, NM."
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We have also cited the USDOE's Idaho National Laboratory with regards to related CO2 recycling technology, as, for one instance, in our report concerning:
Idaho Recycles CO2 | Research & Development | News; which more fully discloses the concept, as:
"Syntrolysis: Simultaneously electrolyzing water and carbon-dioxide into Syngas
Two global energy priorities today are finding environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuels, and reducing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. Idaho National Laboratory researchers have invented a technology that can do both."
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Other reports we've cited for you suggest that the Water solutions of Carbon Dioxide, as above, can be better and more efficiently electrolyzed into Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide, i.e., "syngas", if those solutions are first converted, by boiling one supposes, into a mixture of gaseous CO2 and Steam.
Three of those "Idaho National Laboratory researchers", at least one of which we've additionally and separately cited, herein explain the concept of such Steam-CO2 "Syntrolysis" more fully.
Comment follows excerpts from the initial and following links in this dispatch to:
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"Title: Carbon Neutral Production of Syngas Via ... Electrolytic Reduction of Steam and CO2;
November, 2007
By: C. Stoots, J. O'Brien and J. Hartvigsen; Idaho National Laboratory
OSTI ID: 923498; Report Number: INL/CON-07-12820
Abstract: This paper presents the most recent results of experiments conducted at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) studying coelectrolysis of steam and carbon dioxide in solid-oxide electrolysis stacks.
Introduction: The United States is exploring the feasibility of a hydrogen-based energy economy, with the goals of reduced oil consumption, independence from foreign energy, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The conversion to such a hydrogen based energy economy, however, will require decades.
Synthetically-derived hydrocarbon fuels (synfuels) can offer a bridge to the future hydrogen economy and an interim solution to obtain domestic energy independence. The raw material for synfuel production is syngas, a mixture of hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO). Traditionally, syngas has been produced via coal gasification ... .
For the past several years, the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has had an on-going project funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) ... studying ... high-temperature electrolysis of steam using solid-oxide cells for large-scale hydrogen production.
Complementary to this research, the INL, in conjunction with Ceramatec Inc. (Salt Lake City, USA), has also been researching the use of solid oxide cells for simultaneous electrolysis (coelectrolysis) of steam/CO2 mixtures to produce syngas: H2O + CO2 = H2 + CO + O2.
Coelectrolysis, however, is significantly more complex than simple steam electrolysis ... primarily due to the multiple reactions that occur.
At temperatures below 700°C, catalytic (Nickel) formation of methane may occur.
(Which ain't that bad a thing. We remind you: Once we have Methane, as could be synthesized herein from Water solutions of Carbon Dioxide, we can use that Methane, as in various reforming technologies, as explained for us best so far by scientists at Penn State University, to react with even more Carbon Dioxide and thereby synthesize higher hydrocarbons, including liquid Methanol.)
(Although it is) feasible to produce syngas by separately electrolyzing steam and CO2 (there) are significant advantages to electrolyzing steam and CO2 simultaneously, the primary one of which is electrical efficiency.
In coelectrolysis, the reverse gas shift reaction is relied upon for most of the CO production and therefore the overall electrical requirement is less. A second advantage is that in coelectrolysis the likelihood of producing carbon by electrolysis of CO is reduced.
Conclusions: The raw material for synfuel production is syngas, a mixture of H2 and CO. The Idaho National Laboratory has demonstrated the feasibility of using high temperature solid oxide cells to coelectrolyze H2O and CO2 simultaneously to produce syngas."
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And, that would pretty much sum it up:
We can electrolyze reclaimed Carbon Dioxide and Steam, together, and thereby generate a Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide "syngas" suitable, we submit, for Fischer-Tropsch, and/or related, catalytic condensation into liquid hydrocarbons.
And, we remind you of other of our reports, documenting similar work at the USDOE's Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, wherein environmental energy, primarily Solar, can be harnessed to the task of powering and driving the necessary reactions.
Once again: Carbon Dioxide, as herein, and as is emitted in a very small way, relative to natural sources, such as volcanoes, from our varied and productive uses of Coal, is a valuable raw material resource.
We can, as confirmed by the United States Department of Energy, reclaim Carbon Dioxide, even from the atmosphere itself, and, by reacting it with plain old Water, convert them both into the raw materials from which we can synthesize the liquid hydrocarbon fuels we are now dependent on unreliable, and often unfriendly, foreign sources for the supply of.